Fashion's Disconnect: Are Brands Putting Profits Before People?

[fashion review]

I've been a fashion enthusiast for years, and lately, something feels off. It's like the magic is gone. Remember when brands used to tell stories with their clothes? When the experience of buying a piece, whether it was a high-end designer item or something from your favorite boutique, felt special? Now, it just feels… transactional. Like brands are more interested in hitting quarterly targets than actually connecting with their customers.

Take Coach, for example. I used to love their leather bags. The quality was amazing, and the designs were classic. But now? The leather feels thinner, the stitching isn't as precise, and the designs seem… watered down. Yet, the prices keep climbing! It feels like they're cutting corners on quality while maximizing profits. And it's not just them. I see it everywhere.

Then there's the whole celebrity endorsement thing. It feels like every brand is throwing money at some influencer or celebrity, regardless of whether they actually embody the brand's values. It feels so inauthentic. Like, does Kendall Jenner really use that specific skincare product she's promoting? Or are they just getting a paycheck? It makes me question the brand's integrity. It's like they're relying on hype instead of focusing on creating genuinely desirable products.

I miss the days when fashion felt more personal, more about self-expression and less about keeping up with the latest micro-trend. I miss the focus on quality and craftsmanship. I miss the feeling of discovering a unique piece that you knew you would cherish for years. Now, it feels like everything is disposable, designed to be replaced next season.

So, yeah, I definitely think a lot of brands are prioritizing profits over people – and over the planet, too, if we're being honest. I'm not saying all brands are bad, but the shift is definitely noticeable. I'm curious to know if other people feel the same way. Are we just being nostalgic, or is there a real disconnect happening here?

 

[Lola701]

I have the opposite view.
Brands aren’t putting profits over people. It has always been like that.
I think however that today, consumers are over stimulated. People are bombarded by images, by collections and by informations.

Today, an average regular consumer is aware of the financial difficulties of a brand.

It’s a 360 thing. Before it was easy to sell a product disguise by great marketing. Today customers wants their bag to be an « investment » before being a product they like and that fit their lifestyle.

And about the planet? People were simply not aware. In the 2000’s, brands produced the same number of collections (without the collabs). At the end of the season, stuff that were unsold after the sales was destroyed.